Osterley Park and mince pies

Hello again everyone

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

So this afternoon mum and I went to Osterley Park and gardens. 

It is a very impressive looking house close to Heathrow airport. Though obviously the airport wasn't there when they originally built it!

The house as it is today was originally commissioned in 1761on the site of the original Manor House dating from the 1570s.

The National Trust first became involved in the property in 1991.

It is a really nice property but because it is winter and everything is being cleaned and restored there wasn't a lot for us to see today inside the house.

The gardens are large and we wandered around for a bit before the house opened at 12. To pass the time I climbed some trees.

In the house we wandered around and even made a Christmas garland!

When we came home we made some mince pies, I've just had one, it was yummy.

I'm not sure what we are up to next week but I'll let you know. 

Lots of love

Ben

Osterley Park House

Climbing trees, it was a long way up!

Christmas decorations in the house

Our Garland!

In the kitchen

In the coal store

Mince pie!!

Ham House and Gardens

Hello everyone 

I hope you have had a good week.

Today mum and I have gone out to look at some National Trust properties, as dad is at the Model Engineering exhibition at Sandown Park (we were all there yesterday).

We've started today at Ham House.

Ham House is a 17th century house near Richmond-upon-Thames and located near the river bank of the Thames itself.

It was built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour for King James I. 

It's owners have included since then the Duchess of Lauderdale and her husband. 

It is said it is one of the most haunted buildings in the country. I didn't see any ghosts today though.

In 1948 the house and gardens were gifted to the National Trust by the then owner, Sir Lyonel Tollemache (the 4th Baronet of Hanby Hall).

Today we have looked around the gardens (even though it's really cold) and at the 'below stairs' parts of the house as the rest of the house is shut up for winter.

Lots of children have come to see Santa later but we got to see him as he came out of the house on his way to see all the children, he even waved at us.

All the figures in the gardens are wearing Santa hats too. It really brilliant.

We've bought some Christmas decorations in the shop for the Christmas tree and now we are off to another NationalTrust property not far away.

I hope it's a bit warmer by the time we get there.

Speak to you later

Lots of love

Ben 

Ham House

In the gardens

An aeroplane we saw over the cafe

Santa

Below stairs

Christmassy figures

The house as seen from the river Thames

On our way again

Norfolk

Hello everyone

I hope you are all ok. Are you ready for Christmas?

So I came back from a long weekend in Norfolk yesterday. It was really lovely but a little cold. 

We stopped to look at the Bure Valley railway on the way to dad's auntie and uncle's house and had a wander around Wroxham. We didn't go on the railway but it was nice to have a look at the really nice bookshop on the station (I bought quite a few books too).

On Sunday we went to the North Norfolk railway to have a look, then around Sheringham and Cromer; we didn't buy any crabs though!

On the way back on Monday we drove down the coast to Great Yarmouth. The front there is very long and very impressive. It's a shame more shops weren't open on the front but is the winter season. 

After we left Great Yarmouth we stopped off at Bressingham Steam and Gardens to have a look around, there is a huge  locomotive in the car park from Finland there which I got to have a quick sit on. 

We then stopped in Thetford and had a look at the buildings that are still there that were used by Charles Burrell and Sons to build thier traction engines. There aren't many buildings left now and one of the ones we saw is being knocked down and flats being built on the site; it's a shame but the building is crumbling down. It was great to see the buildings where some of my favourite traction engines were built. I hope one day to visit the museum there. 

After all of that at the weekend I'm a little tired so I might pop back to sleep in a bit.

 

It's really looking like Christmas here now with the tree up and decorated and tinsel everywhere. I'm getting very excited about Christmas now.

I hope you all have a lovely week.

Lots of love

Ben

Locomotives at the North Norfolk

Sheringham station

Me at Sheringham station

Cromer pier

Watching rock being made in Great Yarmouth

Some chocolate I bought in Great Yarmouth

At Great Yarmouth pier

At Bressingham in the sunshine

At the Burrell works

Whitby, Santa special and home

Hello everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend. 

Mine seems to have gone very quickly. 

I apologise as my post from yesterday only seems to have uploaded today.

So today mum, dad and I went to Whitby. We had a look at a lovely Christmas market on the quayside where one of mum's friends had a stall. The market had been running since Thursday and finished today. It looked really lovely as all the stalls were in beach huts.

We then had a wander around the shops and had some very scrummy fish and chips for lunch in a restaurant called Hadleys. 

After our lunch we went to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to have a look at their Santa special trains. I even got to meet a Santa! 

After the railway we drove home, I slept most of the way so for me it was pretty uneventful. 

When I got home I had a new friend waiting for me, his name is Olaf (apparently he is quite famous). I've decided he seems like he could be a good friend so I'm sharing my jelly crocodiles (bought in Whitby earlier) with him. 

Next weekend we are off to Norfolk. I'll let you know what I get up to.

Hope you all have a good week

Lots of love

Ben

Christmas market

I thought this stall looked really amazing, I love gingerbread too!

Lunchtime fish and chips

Really cool looking pebble at the restaurant 

Santa special train

Meeting Santa 

My new friend Olaf

The sweets we've picked out to share

North Yorkshire Moors Railway (again)

Hello everyone

I hope you are all well.

We have come to see my grandparents for the weekend, so today we went on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. 

It is so beautiful yet different from when we went on it in September.

I love the ever changing scenery of everywhere. The leafs (what are left of them) on all the trees are beautiful colours. Everywhere is starting to look Christmassy  too.

We went on a return journey from Grosmont to Pickering, I had hot chocolate and biscuits on the way up to Pickering. Then we had a wander around the antiques markets and flea market stalls before having some lunch at Botham's tea rooms opposite the station.  I also listened to a brass band playing Christmas carols in Pickering market place. 

It was starting to get dark when we came back so we had a look at the Christmas lights in Whitby (we are going there tomorrow too) then back to my grandparents' house. 

It's been a rather busy day today so I'm off to bed now.

Speak soon

Ben

Ready to leave Grosmont

At Goathland (aka Aindensfield in Heartbeat and Hogsmead station from the first Harry Potter film).

Watching the scenery going by.

Having my hot chocolate 

Christmas tree at Pickering station.